Sean Casey

I'm Sean, a full stack web developer, digital nomad, and cultural anthropologist. I'm originally from the USA and am now 'based' in Melbourne, Australia, but am most frequently globetrotting, plugging away at code and analytics from my trusty mobile workstation (pictured). I work with mostly Drupal and Django content management systems (CMS), helping clients build web solutions that are elegant on the backend, yet a sinch to manage dynamic content. I also do lots of site architecture consultation in addition to custom site analytics and business dashboards.

I've worked at a number of hostels from Greece to Japan in my younger days, and I've probably stayed at hundreds of hostels across the 80+ countries I've been to. In other words, I have an intimate familiarization with the hostel culture as a guest as well as with the ins and outs of hostel management. This is essential for working with hostel owners and managers to build websites that speak to the hostel experience, and finding creative ways to improve search rank.

Native of English
Fluent in Japanese
'Good enough to understand email' in Spanish

Lior Slepkov

After working at McDonald's for 10 years as a Store Manager, I quit my job for a gap year around Europe. Although I had backpacked for vacations several times before, this was a true venture of utilizing my skills in a more professional level of hosteling.

Starting out as a volunteer, I transitioned easily into the reception, and shortly after became the manager of a couple hostels in Seville, Spain. When these hostels grew into a chain of 4 properties in 3 Andalusian cities, I became the Operations Supervisor of the entire chain.

After working 7 years as an Operations Supervisor, I decided to take things to the next level and start spreading my experience of hostel operations and revenue management as a consultant for other hostels. Since then I have worked with properties ranging from award winning hostels who wish to refine their operations and capitalize on their revenue opportunities to hostels that felt stuck in the past welcoming a fresh set of professional eyes to help them catch back up.

The results have always been positive! From two-digit increase in percentage ratings and tripling direct bookings to significantly increasing TRevPAB (Total Revenue Per Available Bed). The accumulation of knowledge and experience I gain with each hostel I work with is a added benefit for me and for the next hostel I work with.

Most recently I have founded www.hostel.consulting which brings together experienced hostel experts to offer hostels a complete package of support, from Marketing to Pre-opening a new hostel.

Does your hostel need help with something in specific? Not sure what you are not seeing? Let experience speak for itself, and contact me.

John Moriarty

Hi my name is John Moriarty and I am a website designer from the beautiful town of Killarney, Ireland.
I setup Moriarty Web Design in 2015 and have been helping businesses and organisations with their online presence since. I wanted to create beautiful functional websites at an affordable price. I base my websites on the Wordpress platform so they can be easily maintained by the customer for any content they want to regularly update. The design of a website is one part to your online marketing. I work on SEO( Search Engine Optimisation ) as well, so you can compete for clicks in an effective way bringing customers to your door. I can integrate your social media platforms in to your website, integrate booking widgets , forms and other payment solutions that you might find beneficial for your business.
I have been in the accommodation industry since I was born, growing up in our family run Bed and Breakfast. This gave me great experience on all aspects of the business and after travelling throughout the world I returned to my home to open up Dunloe View Hostel in 2013.
I have helped hostels in the startup phase with both their website and the setup of Social Media Platforms as well as connection with OTA's and setup of channel managers and PMS systems.
Through a quality website design and layout you can help capture more direct bookings meaning less commission given to booking agents.To see my work please visit www.moriartywebdesign.com
If you have any questions or need some advice I am always willing to help.

Darren Overby

My skills are best utilized helping hostels do "more with less". Less capital, less time spent, fewer expenses (i.e. commissions!) to achieve more profit. I've always been drawn to small hostels because of the intimate communities they create. However, small hostels that do not have the "economies of scale" MUST do things much more efficiently than large hostels. I can show you how the right utilization of technology such as PMS systems, Channel Managers (Myallocator), Booking Engines and Marketing Source Analytics (including but not limited to Google Analytics) can help your small hostel compete with the big hostels (and hotels).

I'll also show you how to put the necessary monitoring in place to make sure the systems you have created for running your hostel do not "fail silently". How many times have you noticed your hostel was not bookable on a site months after the failure occurred?

I can fly to most parts of the world and you often won't even need to even pay for my flight! I look forward to working with you.

Courtney Loechl

Courtney here! I'm a content writer, idea generator, and many year hostel manager. I started my love (infatuation?) with hostels while studying in South Africa in 2007 and never looked back. After traveling around the world for a few years, I began managing hostels in 2011. First in Swaziland, southern Africa, followed by four years in San Francisco at the #1 hostel in SF, Pacific Tradewinds.

I've been writing for HostelManagement.com for 4 years, including 4 months in Australia and New Zealand where I visited 30+ fantastic hostels to discover what made them so great. The perspective I've gained between traveling, managing, and writing has given me a unique position to help others.

The hostels I've managed have been small, independent, and extremely busy. Their size has actually been one of the greatest assets to my knowledge base. Managing a small but dynamic hostel means constantly thinking on your feet in every area of operations. From solving computer bugs to installing a toilet using just a few tools and YouTube, it's often been a one woman show, and I've worn my fair share of hats.

Managing across all aspects of the business has also taught me the importance of having reliable systems in place for you and your staff. I'm open to helping hostels with many areas, but a solid operations plan and the necessary follow ups is critical. If you feel like you are just getting by, or don't have a solid handle on all the moving pieces, let me help you! An amazing hostel may feel spontaneous and fun, but it should run like a well-oiled machine underneath. Sometimes that takes an outside perspective to see what your missing and get on the right path. Contact me to see how we can best work together!

Serena Vittoria Nitti

Hi! I'm Serena Vittoria Nitti, freelance Graphic Designer currently based in Berlin.
I split my time between design, travels and drinking way too much coffee. I specialize in branding and marketing materials for small business, I worked across a wide spectrum of projects, from brochures to websites, from flyers to social media design. Take a look at my portfolio to have an idea of what I do, and shoot me a message if interested in a collaboration!

I started my work with hostels in 2009 at USA Hostels (San Francisco) and worked profesionally in 2011-12 as a grapic designer in the hostel industry.
I've stayed in hostel in various cities: Los Angeles, San Diego, Austin, New York, Amsterdam, London, Prague, Lisbon, Berlin, Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, Venice, Rome, Ischia... etc

The expertise I will put to use as a hostel consultant relates to: Graphic Design, Art Direction, Branding, Illustration, Web Design, UI design.
I also have professional skills in Photography and Crafts

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